Outdoor Rock Climbing in Colorado Springs
I was bursting with anticipation for my first outdoor rock climbing experience. Rock Climbing in Colorado Springs on the stunning red rocks was truly a dream. I needed a rock climbing guide, a scenic location with fun climbs, and rock climbing equipment. Garden of the Gods rock climbing with Front Range Climbing Company provided all of that and much more.
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Disclaimer: This article is by no means a guide from an expert, but rather learnings from my experience. My climbing experience was provided by Colorado Springs Tourism Board with sponsorship from Front Range Climbing Company. However, all the opinions are entirely my own.
Arriving at Garden of the Gods for Rock Climbing
I arrived early to the Garden of the Gods for outdoor rock climbing in Colorado Springs. I knew this would be completely different from climbing in Estes Park at Rocky Mountain National Park. At the visitor center, I picked a sandwich for lunch as the detailed instructions from Front Range Climbing Company recommended. To my delight the visitor center is amazing. It’s a state of the art visitor center with information about the history, geography, more attractions and culture of the area. The most impressive aspect was the architecture and the absolutely amazing views of the Garden of the Gods.
Garden of the Gods is the most visited park in the US. It is part of every Colorado itinerary and is also popular with locals of Colorado. In addition to outdoor rock climbing, the park offers many activities like hiking, biking, Segway rides, Jeep tours, etc. There is something for every visitor in every season. Red Rocks in the park reminded me of our Sedona vacation with my girlfriends.
After spending as much time as possible in the visitor center, I headed to the Garden of the Gods to meet my rock climbing guide in the main parking lot. The lot is typically very full as early as 9 am, but if you wait a few minutes someone will leave and you’ll find a parking spot. The advice worked for me.
A Good Start to Outdoor Rock Climbing
James, my rock climbing guide met me in the parking lot, fully prepared with all the climbing equipment in the back of his car.
Before we started my outdoor rock climbing experience, he showed me all the gear that would constitute a comprehensive rock climbing equipment list – ropes, helmet, climbing harness, shoes, carabiners, quickdraws, camming devices, etc. He gave in a perfectly fitting helmet, climbing shoes and harness to wear for the morning. A video with rock climbing equipment list is further in this article.
As we walked around the Garden of the Gods to find a rock-climbing trail, visitors started to arrive in large numbers. As James explained, people take pictures and videos of climbers in their native habitat to share on Instagram. Maybe, we are on someone’s Instagram feed as miniature climbers.
Rock Climb #1
Our first climb of the day was to the top of South Gateway. It is the third highest peak in Garden of the Gods, and hence a great vantage point. Its the ideal route for mountain climbing for beginners because at a 5-4 difficulty level, it’s relatively easy and the reward is spectacular. South Gateway peak is about 300 feet from the ground, but the vertical rock climbing is only for the last 150 feet or so.
For some perspective, outdoor rock climbing difficulty level is on a scale of 5-1 to 5-15. Where 5-4 is mountain climbing for beginners and 5-15 is possible for just a few climbers in the world. Routes in Garden of the Gods go up to 5-13 and James regularly climbs about 5-11 which is pretty flat vertical climb with not much to hold on to. I learned that at around 5-8, the climber would start getting into mentally challenging aspects of outdoor rock climbing. With just a couple of fingertips to hold on, one could even flip upside down!
Garden of the Gods has routes for all levels starting with beginners at 5-4 and lots of fun 5-11 and 5-12s. We did some 5-6s during my experience of rock climbing in Colorado Springs.
On this first route, James went up to lay the rope and then we climbed up together. Although I rarely get nervous, it was great to have him just a few meters away to give just-in-time climbing tips and training.
The South Gateway provides a 360-degree birds-eye view of Colorado Springs. On one side is the tallest peak called the North Gateway and on the other side is the Kindergarten rock, just a wee bit shorter. All around, we get an excellent perspective of the entire park and beyond.
Rock Climb #2 & 3
We walked around the park to find slightly more challenging routes with no climbers. James found one fairly quickly in a pretty quiet spot. But, to my surprise, a tiny drone showed up looking straight at us. I knew that drones were not allowed in the Garden of the Gods! It turns out, people are not allowed to launch drones from within the park, but people regularly launch drones from a street next to the park. Climbers in Garden of the Gods routinely find their videos and photos online.
The next two routes also offer mountain climbing for beginners, at about 5-6 difficulty level. As James set up the ropes, I waited in anticipation and soaked in the views. It was so much fun watching James’s friend, climb the nearly vertical 5-11 difficult route, across the park.
Was it a sense of awe, desire to climb or give up… I can’t nail it. But I did make it up all by myself, with barely anything to hold on to.
After every route, my rock climbing guide meticulously looped the ropes and packed up for the next rock climbing experience.
Rock Climb #4 & 5
My last two climbs were also about the same difficulty level at around 5-6. But seemed quite a bit more challenging because some sections, near the top that was very flat. Thinking back, it was probably mentally tiring and not at all risky. Knowing the basics, I’m even more in awe of people that climb El Capitan.
These last two climbs were more in the center of the park. So, there were more people on the ground but the area is fenced. Only people with climbing permits are allowed within the fenced areas.
Just a few hours ago, I had dreaded coming down. On my first rock climb that morning, I thought I would much rather go up where I could control my climb than come down on the rope. It seemed so unnerving. Later I realized it was so much harder to climb up. But, coming down was total fun.
FAQ – Mountain Climbing for Beginners
I learned that it’s pretty easy to decide what to wear for rock climbing. Here is a list for your reference –
– Climbing shoes, harness, and helmet were provided by Front Range Climbing Company.
– Comfortable clothing – I wore tights and light-weight breathable hiking shirt. Other climbers were wearing shorts or long pants. I recommend bright colors so you can be seen from a distance. Well fitted clothes help because they won’t get in the way of climbing and looking where you’re going.
– GoPro. If you don’t have one, rent from the climbing company. It’s awesome to watch and re-live the climb later.
– Sunscreen, because you will be exposed to the sun.
– Cell phone, camera, and watch to capture the memories.
My approach would be to join a class or group that teaches mountain climbing for beginners with an experienced guide. My rock climbing guide had 20 years of experience and knew everything there is to know about outdoor rock climbing.
Learn one step at a time through practice. No in-class lecture or YouTube video is a substitute for just doing it and applying each technique as you learn.
Hang out with the outdoor mountain climbing community. As James said, every climber requires a buddy. Let the community know you’re willing to be the buddy when they need one. Go out there as much as possible, you’ll learn by being around climbers and they’ll be happy to show you how to do outdoor rock climbing. It is also much more economical than paying for each lesson.
There is no need to buy climbing equipment until much later because climbing companies provide the gear. But when you are ready, buy the very best, your life depends on it, literally.
Here is an article about rock climbing for beginners
Since I went with a rock climbing guide, he took care of all the regulatory requirements. I was asked by the staff if I have a permit. I told them I was going with Front Range Climbing Company and they were satisfied.
The 2019 permit and rules for climbing in Garden of the Gods can be found here.
While I’ve generally seen Yosemite and Boulder on top x climbing lists in the world, I feel the Garden of the Gods is a great place for mountain climbing for beginners. Here are a few of my reasons
– It’s gorgeous! The red rocks with the lush green backdrop make for stunning views.
– It’s easily accessible from Colorado Springs and Denver.
– Garden of the Gods caters for all levels of difficulty from 5-4 to 5-13, within a short distance.
– There is a vibrant mountain climbing community and one can find excellent guides in Colorado Springs.
– It’s significantly less expensive than California.
– The weather is gorgeous, as I’ve heard. That was definitely the case in June when I visited.
– There is a lot more to do in the area – great food, resorts, attractions, adventures, hiking, etc. You can combine outdoor rock climbing with a family vacation so those who don’t want to climb have other excellent options.
Several years ago, the rock structures in Garden of the Gods were easy targets for people to etch their names. The random etchings were generating ugliness so the city passed a law to ban graffiti in the park. When people heard about the new law, they rushed to the Garden of the Gods. They etched their names deep in the rocks before the law could be enforced. The ugliness lives to this day but thankfully there are no more new ones. Luckily, the graffiti is near the base of the rocks and is now hidden behind bushes. There is no color, so the graffiti not at all obvious.
Outdoor Rock Climbing Tips
Be Prepared
- If you’re going with a guide who is providing the supplies, be sure they use top-quality equipment that is not worn out. Your life depends on it.
- Know what to wear when rock climbing. I’ve provided in the FAQ section.
- Stay hydrated. Bring water and drink frequently. But remember, you won’t be taking a bathroom break during outdoor rock climbing for 1/2 day.
- Know the location. Weather changes rapidly in the mountains so it’s essential to plan for possible outcomes in the area.
Outdoor Rock Climbing Equipment List
As I learned from my rock climbing guide, rock climbing equipment has come a very long way in the last couple of decades. In the past, mountaineers created gear from creative use of other equipment. The resulting gear was bulky and inconvenient. Today, one can buy mountaineering equipment that can withstand 100x my weight and be quite compact. However, it’s critical to regularly examine the equipment for damage from prior climbs.
Following is a video where James explained the rock climbing equipment list very clearly and how each tool works.
Here is a rock climbing equipment list as I learned during my experience as beginner outdoor climber –
- Helmet
- Climbing shoes – their soft rubber soles provide a grip on the rock
- Climbing harness to secure you to the rope
- Climbing Rope
- Carabiners
- Quickdraws or Draws
- Camming Devices
- Belay and Rappel devices
- Climbing chalk is NOT allowed in Garden of the Gods because it would leave marks on the rock and damage the view for visitors.
Rock Climbing is Mind Over Matter
Outdoor rock climbing is more about the mind than the body. When you’re high on a vertical rock, it’s natural to freak out. It’s high and you’re hanging on a rock face with little support. So, focus on enjoying the experience and not worry about anything.
The weather can get hot or cold or windy. If possible, go at a time when the weather is nice. When I went rock climbing in Colorado Springs in early June, the weather was perfect – slightly cool, sunny, with no rain or wind. If the weather is bad, talk to your rock climbing guide for best routes at that time.
When climbing vertical rock faces, there were times when I felt there was no place to put my fingertips or toes. As I tried to meticulously calculate how to climb forward, I couldn’t figure it out. So, I took a breath and let go. Miraculously, my hands and feet knew what to do! They found a way and to my surprise, I kept climbing. It was so much easier to go on auto-pilot than it was when trying to find a crack to hold on.
Outdoor rock climbing was really a dream come true. Since my visit, Ruchira and Pinky did the same 1/2 day mountain climbing class for beginners. They absolutely loved it too. I hope you’ll give it a try and check off a bucket list item. If you do, please share your experience in the comments section below.
Related Links
- My Colorado Itinerary for 6 days trip
- Rocky Mountain National Park – View Points, Hikes and Itineraries
- Front Range Climbing Company
- Where to stay in Colorado Springs
- Sedona vacation in a weekend
- Picture gallery from Utah and Arizona’s national parks
- Joshua Tree National Park Itinerary
